Plenty of prominent nameplates had poor sales years in 2009, but the Chevrolet Corvette's sales slide appears to have hit a historic low. Just 13,934 Corvettes were sold in 2009.
Edmunds.com tracks sales data back to 1991, and based on the chart after the jump, this is the Vette's worst sales year of the last 19 years. The second-worst year was '91 when just 17,472 were sold.
However, Auto Observer's Bill Visnic did an informal survey of Corvette Black Book data, and unofficially at least, 2009 looks to have been the worst year for the Corvette since 1961.
Data Source: Edmunds.com Inc.
lexusaddict says:
04:52 PM, 01/ 5/10
they really need a new Corvette...
roar02ram says:
05:06 PM, 01/ 5/10
A new Corvette that doesn't look like an old Corvette!
cwc1 says:
05:13 PM, 01/ 5/10
We're not bloody likely to see one for a while, if ever, since they canceled further development on the replacement last year. The Obama administration, with its hands directly or indirectly in everything in the private sector isn't likely to "let" them either. Thus, they may further kill GM.
greenpony says:
05:27 PM, 01/ 5/10
Meh. I still see plenty of C6's on the road. One speed bump doesn't signify anything dire.
jederino says:
05:51 PM, 01/ 5/10
^^that's right. A Corvette is a luxury purchase, and will come back strong when sporting enthusiasts have discretionary money again.
roadburner says:
05:54 AM, 01/ 6/10
I agree; those sales numbers say much more about the economy than they do about the car.
lmbvette says:
08:52 AM, 01/ 6/10
^^^Agreed.
I just sold my C6 a month ago. Depreciation on the C6 is insane right now.
Before I sold it I had been watching various Corvette forums considering buying a newer model (mine was an 05). A ton of guys were selling barely used 08 and 09 Vettes. These were 2nd, 3rd or 4th cars for these guys. So when the economy went South these guys were unloading them quickly. There were some great deals on Z06's. So...if you want a C6, now is most certainly the time to buy.
santiagofdz says:
12:20 PM, 01/ 6/10
Taken out of context, a nearly 50% drop in sales vs previous year is most certainly alarming.
But a sports car in a tricky economic climate was never going to fare very well to start. I'd like to see how the sales behaved on the 'Vette when the 70's oil crisis hit (and even then competition wasn't nearly as tough as it is right now); that being the closest to compare with, since there wasn't a Vette around in any comparable economic meltdown....I think.
And seeing that people are unloading their Vettes right now...I'm kinda frustrated I don't live in the states right now :P
anythngbutgm says:
05:50 AM, 01/ 8/10
Good. Less chance of getting hit by a flying roof... :)
Seriously, no surprise here. The Vette is long in the tooth and the downturn in the economy is probably driving away a lot of potential buyers. Toys are not a priority when your job and your financial stability are on the rocks.